Nostril dilator



June 5, 1928. 1,672,591

W. A. WELLS NOSTRIL DILATOR Filed Aug. 4, 1927 Patented June 5, 1928.

WALTER A. WELLS, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Nos'mIL DILATOR.

Application filed August 4, 1927. Serial No. 210,533;

' My invention relates to nostril dilators and particularly to one fortreating a patient afilictcd with an obstruction in the vestibule of hisnose or inadequate nasal passages, and also as an instrument fordistending the nostrils to permit a physician or surgeon to treat oroperate in the nasal ca-vity thus leaving him the free use of both handsfor operating. j

The accompanying drawings illustrate one form of my invention, inwhich:

Figure l is a perspective view of my instrument,

Figure 2 is a front view of the same, and Figure 3 is a side view. Inthese drawings, 11 tinuous smooth resilient wire which is coiled into aseries of loops 12, and 13, each loop having one or more secondarycoils. \Vhen not constrained, the instrument assumes a somewhattrunca-ted-wedge-like shape, four of the loops 12 being on the slopingfaces, while two lateral loops 13 join two of the loops 12. I

Two bridging loops 14 join adjacent loops 12 of the companion pressuremembers 15, the semi-circ 1 1lar portions of the said loops 14 serveboth as stops which. engage the septum of the patients nose and ashandles by which the instrument may be readily withdrawn.

The resilient pressure members distribute the pressure over a relativelylarge area and permit the ready adjustment of these members to noses ofvarying shapes and sizes botl by bending the wire to permanently alterthe shape and also by the resiliency of the device which permits springresisted contraction in any direction. For infants and for individualshaving peculiarly shaped noses, special forms of my instrument may beprovided.

My dilator is designed with particular reference to the anatomicalconformation and physiological characteristics of the nasal organ,causing a minimum of discomfort because no pressure is exerted upon thesensitive mucous membrane adjacent to the septum, and expanding thenostrils in different directions without exerting excessive pressure atanypoint. My instrument expands the nostrils without obstructing thefree passage of other instruments for oprepresents a consignature.

The device is so shaped as to be firmly retained in .the nose and beingrelatively inconspicuous may be 'worn while'the patient is engaged inhis usual occupations as well as when asleepnormal breathing, throughthe nose being prompted at all times, and snoring overcome or lessenedwhen he sleeps.

In operation, the device held with the loops 14 in position to straddlethe septum of the patients nose, the instrument is then 'i'nanuallycontracted and inserted in the nostrils, whereas the pressure isreleased the dilator expands the nostrils and continues to provide aresilient support.

Many modifications of the illustrated form of my invention may be madewithin the scope of the claims and the invention. Other shapes for thepressure members may, for instance, be used, coils of other shapessubstituted and a single bridging loop used.

lVhat I claim is:

j 1. A nostril dilator comprising a plurality of loops of resilientwireforming two re-' silient pressure members, each having a succession oflaterally resilient loops adapted to yieldingly expand companionnostrils 'by pressure against the flexible sides thereof.

2. A nostril dilator comprising a plurality of loops of resilient wirearranged in a hollow for-m having companion resilient pressure members,each having'a succession of laterally, resilient loops separated by atransverse openingysaid pressure members being joined by one or moreresilient bridging loops spanning one end of said opening.

3. A nostril dilator comprising a series of laterally resilientelongated loops of resilient wire arranged in the form of a hollowtruncated wedge provided with a trans verse opening and one or moreresilient bridging loops at one end otsaid opening joining symmetricalportions of said dilator. 1

.4. A nostril dilator. comprising companion resilient pressure memberseach formed of a series of laterally'resilient loops adapted foryieldingly resisting peripheral contrac:

tion, and one or more resilient bridging loops -]OlIl1I1g Sibld pressuremembers.

In testimonywhereof I hereunto afiix my W. A. WELLS.

of the nasal cavity.

